NO. 53.— 1902.] TREES AND FLOWERING PLANTS. 



215 



Very common throughout both Provinces in wet sandy 

 soils. I have obtained it at the summit of Karawitakanda 

 (1,200 feet) and at Rambukka. 



It affords a strong and very flexible cane-like wood used 

 for making tea-plucking baskets, tiffin baskets, and work 

 baskets, for which purposes it is very suitable. 



MYRISTICACEJE. 



The Nutmeg Family is represented by one Genus and four 

 species in Ceylon : Myristica. 



222. — Myristica laurifolia. 



Malaboda, S. ®Q9©3a) ; Rerimawara, S. 8Q ®D©d ; Palama- 

 nikkam, T. ue6Laa-Qss^<s5<sLo. 



Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. III., p. 434. 



A large erect tree, with cylindrical stem, dark gray bark, 

 yielding a pinkish blood-coloured juice when wounded. 



Leaves large, about eight to ten inches, ovate or lanceolate- 

 oval, rounded at base, rather stiff, smooth, dark glossy green 

 above, with rather short stout stalks, grooved above. 



Flowers in clusters in axils of fallen leaves, small, yellow- 

 ish. Readily distinguished by the large fleshy fruit, which 

 on opening exposes the solitary brown seed enclosed within 

 a brilliantly-coloured aril. 



Very common throughout the wet forests of both 

 Provinces up to 5,000 feet, but rarely found in the dry 

 zone. During the fruit season it affords a favourite food 

 for the Hill Mynah, which not infrequently swallows the 

 seed whole. 



The wood is a pale brownish-straw colour, very straight- 

 grained, soft, easily split, and smooth. Weight, about 24 lb. 

 per cubic foot ; not durable. Very well suited for tea boxes 



